The artwork “Deserter” by Ilya Repin was created in the year 1917. Repin utilized oil on linoleum as his medium, producing a piece that is representative of the Realism movement. This portrait spans dimensions of 43.5 x 31 cm and is housed at the Vitebsk Museum of Fine Arts located in Vitebsk, Belarus.
The artwork presents us with the close-up portrait of a man who appears to be gazing directly at the viewer with an earnest and perhaps troubled look. His facial features are depicted with Repin’s characteristic realistic touch, conveying a sense of immediacy and emotional depth. The brushstrokes are expressive, suggesting the texture of the man’s skin and the fabric of his clothing. The palette consists of earthy tones, with contrasts of light and shadow that give the subject a three-dimensional presence. Visible in the lower right are the artist’s signature and the date of completion, vividly inscribed in red, which stands out against the darker background. The artwork captures a moment of raw human emotion, possibly reflecting the tumultuous period during which it was created, revealing Repin’s mastery in portraying the human condition.
